Six Highway Contractors Killed in California Work Zones Since August, Caltrans Warns
California transportation officials are urging drivers to slow down and pay closer attention in highway construction zones after six contractor employees were killed while working on Caltrans projects in less than two months.
According to Caltrans, all six workers were struck and killed in active highway work zones between August 10 and early October 2026. The recent deaths have prompted the agency and its partners to renew calls for drivers to reduce their speed, avoid distractions, and follow California’s Move Over law when approaching roadside workers and vehicles.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a California traffic accident, including a collision in or near a highway work zone, DAG Law Firm, APC can review the circumstances of your case. Call 323-930-2020 or contact us online for a free consultation. There are no attorney fees unless we win your case.
Six Highway Workers Killed Since August 10
Caltrans announced on October 8 that six contractor employees working on its highway projects had been struck and killed since August 10. The agency described the recent fatalities as an urgent reminder of the dangers faced by people who work only feet away from moving traffic.
Three of those workers were killed in a single collision on September 25 on eastbound Interstate 10 near Blythe in Riverside County. According to the California Highway Patrol’s preliminary investigation, a big rig struck a parked attenuator construction vehicle and other vehicles before three construction workers were struck and fatally injured. The truck driver also suffered serious injuries.
The circumstances of individual work-zone collisions can differ significantly, and a preliminary crash report does not by itself establish civil liability. Investigators may need to consider vehicle speed, distraction, impairment, lane closures, warning devices, traffic control measures, visibility, and the actions of everyone involved.
Caltrans Calls on Drivers to “Be Work Zone Alert”
Following the recent fatalities, Caltrans held a news conference with partner agencies to emphasize safer driving around construction and maintenance crews.
The agency is asking motorists to remain alert whenever they see cones, barrels, barriers, pavement markings, warning signs, maintenance vehicles, or people working near the roadway. Drivers should reduce their speed and give themselves enough time and distance to respond to unexpected conditions.
Caltrans also emphasized the importance of avoiding distracted or impaired driving. Even a brief period of inattention can become especially dangerous in a work zone, where lanes may narrow or shift and workers may be positioned close to active traffic.
California’s Move Over Law Expanded in 2026
California drivers should also be aware of an expansion of the state’s Move Over law that took effect January 1, 2026.
Assembly Bill 390 expanded the law beyond certain emergency and tow vehicles to include highway maintenance vehicles and stationary vehicles displaying flashing hazard lights or other warning devices such as cones or road flares.
When approaching a qualifying stopped vehicle, motorists are generally required to move into a lane that is not immediately adjacent to the vehicle when it is safe to do so. If changing lanes safely is not possible, drivers must slow to a safe speed.
These requirements are intended to create additional separation between moving traffic and the people who may be working, assisting motorists, or responding to emergencies along California roadways.
Caltrans Taking Additional Steps After Fatal Work-Zone Crashes
The recent fatalities have also prompted changes within Caltrans.
Following the September 25 crash in Riverside County that killed three contractors, Caltrans directed construction teams and contractors to participate in an immediate safety stand-down to review roadside safety procedures.
The department also announced plans to establish an executive-level safety committee with industry partners. According to Caltrans, the committee will consider new technology and safety devices, review existing work-zone standards, and evaluate whether future transportation contracts should include additional safety measures.
California is also moving toward increased speed enforcement in certain highway work zones. A law that took effect in 2026 authorizes Caltrans to establish a pilot program using radar or laser technology and cameras to detect certain speeding violations in work zones.
Why Highway Work-Zone Crashes Can Be So Serious
Road construction workers often perform their jobs in an environment where there may be little physical separation between them and vehicles traveling at highway speeds.
A driver who enters a closed portion of a roadway, fails to notice a lane shift, becomes distracted, or approaches a work zone too quickly may have very little time to react. Workers may also have limited ability to move away from an approaching vehicle because of equipment, barriers, other traffic, or the work they are performing.
Work-zone crashes can also involve more than the workers themselves. Drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and other motorists can suffer serious injuries when vehicles collide with construction equipment, barriers, attenuator trucks, or other vehicles near an active project.
Injured Workers May Have More Than One Type of Claim
When someone is injured while performing their job, workers’ compensation may provide benefits for medical treatment and a portion of lost wages. California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation explains that the system generally provides benefits for injuries arising out of employment regardless of who caused the injury.
However, an on-the-job injury can sometimes also involve a separate personal injury claim when someone other than the worker’s employer contributed to the accident. California’s workers’ compensation guidance specifically recognizes that a third party may potentially be sued when that third party contributed to a workplace injury or death, such as in a work-related motor vehicle collision.
For example, if a highway worker is struck by a negligent motorist, the circumstances may require evaluating both workers’ compensation benefits and whether there is a potential third-party claim against the driver or another responsible party.
These issues are highly dependent on the facts. The existence of a workplace injury does not automatically establish a personal injury claim against someone else, and the parties, insurance coverage, and applicable deadlines should be evaluated individually.
Evidence Can Be Critical After a Work-Zone Collision
Serious highway collisions often require a detailed investigation because several factors may have contributed to the crash.
Photographs and video may help document the scene. Images of construction signs, cones, barriers, lane configurations, vehicle damage, debris, lighting conditions, and the positions of equipment can help establish how the work zone appeared at the time of the collision.
Vehicle and electronic data may provide additional information. Depending on the vehicles involved, investigators may examine electronic data concerning speed, braking, or other activity immediately before impact.
Witnesses may provide important context. Construction workers, other motorists, passengers, and people nearby may have observed events before or during the collision that were not captured in an initial police report.
Records should be preserved. Medical records, photographs, insurance correspondence, accident reports, employment information, and other documents can become important when evaluating the consequences of a serious collision.
Evidence can disappear or become harder to obtain over time, which is one reason early investigation may be particularly important after a catastrophic or fatal accident.
Injured in a California Highway or Work-Zone Accident?
The deaths of six highway contractors in less than two months are a sobering reminder that California construction zones are workplaces as well as roadways. Drivers approaching these areas have a responsibility to remain attentive, reduce their speed, obey traffic controls, and give workers enough room to perform their jobs safely.
When a serious work-zone collision occurs, determining responsibility may require examining the conduct of drivers, contractors, employers, government entities, and other parties depending on the circumstances.
DAG Law Firm, APC represents personal injury victims throughout California. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured because of another person’s negligence, our legal team can review the available evidence, identify potential sources of liability, and explain the legal options that may be available.
Contact DAG Law Firm, APC today for a free consultation. Call 323-930-2020 or contact us online to speak with our team about your California personal injury case. There are no attorney fees unless we win your case.
Additional Resources
The Sacramento Bee — “Caltrans: 6 contractors have died in last two months on California highways.” Read the Sacramento Bee report.
Caltrans — “Caltrans Makes Urgent Call for Increased Driver Safety Awareness After Recent Highway Worker Fatalities.” Read the official Caltrans announcement.
California Highway Patrol — Information on California traffic-safety laws taking effect in 2026, including the expanded Move Over law and work-zone speed safety program. Review the CHP announcement.
California Division of Workers’ Compensation — Information for employees injured while working in California. Review California workers’ compensation information.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The facts and circumstances of individual accidents may differ, and no determination regarding negligence or liability should be made solely from preliminary reports. Workers’ compensation and third-party personal injury claims involve different laws and requirements. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Legal advertisement.
